Lamp support



March 15, 1938. H. G. HAMMAR Re. 20,671 1 LAMP SUPPORT g Original FiledJan. 2, 1934 INVENTOR.

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Reissuecl Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oF-Flcs LAMP SUPPORTHerbert G. Hammar, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Federal Electric Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York 15 Claims. (C1. 173-328) Myinvention relates in general to holders and has more particularreference to a receptacle for receiving and supporting luminescentdischarge devices while connecting the same in an electrical circuit,the device of my present invention being especially adapted forsupporting luminescent discharge tubes upon suitable support panels.

Discharge devices of this general character are usually made in tubularform of relatively fragile l material and are mounted for display uponsupporting panels, the ends of the tubul-ar elements being bent andpassed through openings in the panel to permit attachment in anelectrical circuit rearwardly of the panel, and it is an im- 15 portantobjectof my present invention to provide a support for carrying the endof the discharge device at a point where it extends through the panelincluding simple and inexpensive means for connecting the end of thedevice in an elec- 20 trical circuit behind the panel.

Another important object is to provide a support of simple andinexpensive construction, easy to apply on a perforated panel andfacilitating the connection of the supported device in an ex- 25 ternalelectrical circuit.

Another important object is to provide a bushing for supporting a deviceextending through a panel, said bushing having an extension carrying ayielding contact in alignment with the 30 bushing and in position tomake yielding contact with a device inserted through said bushing, afurther object being to form the yielding contact in an inexpensivemanner whereby to reduce production costs.

35 Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, which, taken in connection With the accompanyingdrawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

40 Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional View taken through a panel carrying aluminescent discharge element supported in -a receptacle or holderembodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 2-2 inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a part of my improved support;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a resilient electrode mounting forminga part of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1 viewedfrom the rear of the 55 panel; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 inFigure 5.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawing, a support forreceiving and supporting the end Il of a luminescent discharge tube I3mounted on a panel I5. The portion of the tube I3 in front of the panelis carried on one or more saddles I'I of suitable form adapted to bemounted on the panel and extend forwardly thereof to support thedischarge element in 10 spaced position in front of the panel. The bentend of the discharge device extends through a suitable opening I9 formedin the panel in order to permit said end to be concealed behind thepanel and there connected in an external electrical circuit furnishingpower for operating the device.

In order to support the end of the tube in the opening I9, I providemounting means having cooperating portions whereby to clamp the mountingmeans at the panel opening I9, the mounting means including portionsextending in the opening and providing a bushing for snugly receivingthe end I I of the discharge device. The mounting means also provides apedestal or support, offset with respect to the bushing and extendingrearwardly in position to carry a contact yieldingly in position axiallyaligned with respect to the bushing to engage and make electricalcontact with the end II of the discharge device when the same ispositioned in the bushing. To this end I may provide a bushing 2| havinga central bore 23 adapted to snugly receive the end I I of the dischargedevice and having a flange 25 at the forward end of the bushing Wideenough to overlie and close the opening I9 around the tube end.

The bushing may, of course, be formed in any suitable or convenientfashion on or for connection on the pedestal element, and the clampingmeans likewise may have any suitable or convenient form. I prefer,however, to arrange the bushing as a cooperating clamping element to aidin securing the mounting means on the panel, and to this end the bushing2| preferably has an 45 externally threaded cylindrical portion 21extending rearwardly of the flange 25 through the opening I9 in positionto thread into an internally threaded perforation formed at the base 29of a pedestal 3| in a preferably integral fashion. 50 When the bushing2| is threaded into the portion 29, the pedestal 3| may be secured onthe panel I5 inA position extending rearwardly thereof, the panel beingclamped by and between the clamp portion 29 and the flange 25 of thebushing 2|. 55

My invention, however, is not necessarily restricted to the specificarrangement of parts forming the bushing, the pedestal, and the clamp,as shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferredembodiment, but the parts may be arranged in any convenient manner solong as they provide for securing the mounting means on the panel at theopening I9 and provide also, when mounted, a bushing in cooperativerrelationship with an offset pedestal carrying the Contact elementpreferably yieldingly in axial alignment with the bushing.

In practice, it is difficult to form the discharge element I3 with itsbent end accurately aligned with the axis of the opening I9 and in orderto afford substantial tole-rance to accommodate for the eccentricity ofthe bent end II with respect to the perforation I9, the cylindricalportion 21 of the bushing is preferably formed with an external diametersubstantially less than the diameter of the perforation I9, while theflange 25 projects outwardly of the external surface of the bushing adistance equal to at least twice the difference between the externaldiameter of the cylindrical portion 21 and the vdiameter of theperforation I9 so that the flange will completely cover the perforationI9 no matter how great the eccentricity of the axis of the tube end withrespect to the center of the perforation I9.

The pedestal 3I has an opening 33 adapted to snugly receive a cable 35forming a part of the external electrical circuit with which the end ofthe discharge device is connected. The upper end of the pedestal 3lcontains a pair of spaced horns y 31 projecting beyond the upper end ofthe pedestal. A preferably metallic conducting strip 39 is fastenedacross the upper end of the pedestal 3| between the horns 31, theopposite ends of the strip being bent downwardly along the opposed sidesof the pedestal end. The end edges of the strip are curled as at 4I tocrimpingly receive the bared end 43 of the cable 35. The strip 39 is ormay be fastened to the end of the pedestal in any suitable fashion as bymeans of the fastening screw 45 and serves to support a1 contact member41 yieldingly in coaxial alignment with the channel 23 of thedevice-supporting bushing. 'I'he contact 41 comprises a preferablycircular dished plate of suitable conducting material which is yieldablysupported from the pedestal 3l and electrically connected with theconductor strip 39 preferably by means of a resilient mountingcomprising a-wire of resilient conducting material formed vsubstantiallyas sho-wn in Figure 4 of the drawing, the wire being bent at itsmidpoint to form a pair of substantially parallel arms 49, the ends 5Iof which are bent to substantially semicircular conguration andcrimpingly received Vin the curled edge 53 of the plate 41.

The central portions ofthe wire 49 are secured electrically andmechanically to the strip 39, the strip being preferably crimped as at55 onto the spaced arms 49 near the central portions of the wire. Thearms 49 are also preferably bent as at 51 to improve the yieldingcharacter of the mounting. It will be obvious that the contact, theresilient mounting, and the strip E9 may be formedand assembled as a unit and mounted as such upon the pedestal 3I simply by applyingtheholding screw 45. It will be noted also that the arms Il!! extend onopposite sides of the horns 31 of the pedestal and that the` hornsextend substantially above,l the resilient mounting wire in order toprotect the same;

:sarily restricted to the specific construction and arrangement of thecontact 41 and its resilient mounting, but any suitable or convenientmeans for providing a contact yieldingly mounted on the pedestal inaxial alignment with the bushing may be employed.

The bushing 2l and pedestal 3I may be formed of porcelain, lava,moldable materialsy such as the reaction product of phenol andformaldehyde, and other suitable non-conducting materials. The pedestaland bushing, moreover, m-ay be formed as cheap molded elements whileIthe electrode 41, its resilient mounting, and the connector strip 39 arealso inexpensive to make.

The device is rugged and may be assembled easily on a panel by unskilledoperators, since it is necessary only to crimp one curled edge 4I of thestrip 39 upon the bared end of the conductor -43 in order to completethe electrical circuit for powering the support device I3.

It will be noted also that the opening 33 snugly receives the insulatedcoated portion of the cable 35 so that no further cable anchorage isnecessary. 1

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendantadvantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it isobvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction, andarrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit orscope of my invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages,the forms herein described being preferred embodiments for the purposeof illu..- trating my invention. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a perforated panel,comprising a pedestal, means, to support an element in and secure thepedestal on a panel, contact means carried by said pedestal in positionto engage the supported element, said contact means comprising a plate,a resilient mounting for said plate comprising a pair of electricalconducting members crimpingly secured to said plate, and a strip ofelectrical conducting material crimpingly secured to the conductingmembers at a point remote from said plate, means to secure said stripupon said pedestaLsaid strip being formed with curled portions forreceiving and forming electrical contact with a conductor of an externalelectrical circuit, said pedestal having an end projection extendingbetween and beyond said conducting members to protect the same againstdamage.

2. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising apair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises a bushing,said elements having interfltting parts whereby said elements may beconnected together and mounted on a panel with the bushing in positionto receive and support a discharge element, one of said elements forminga pedestal on the panel in position to extend in offset relationshipkwith respect to the axis of the bushing, a contact and means to mountthe same on the pedestal in axial alignment with said bushing, and inposition to engage and form electrical contact with a discharge elementsupported by said bushing when the cooperating elements are in mountedposition on the panel.

3. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising apair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises a bushing,said elements having interfitting parts whereby said elements may beconnected together and mounted on a panel with the bushing in positionto receive and support a .discharge element, one of said elementsforming a pedestal on the panel in position to extend in offsetrelationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, said pedestalbeing provided with a channel for snugly receiving and supporting acable conductor, a contact, and means to support' the contact from saidpedestal in axial alignment with said bushing and in position to engageand support an electrical contact with a discharge element supported insaid bushing when the parts are mounted on a panel, said means servingto provide electrical connection betwee-n said contact and a cableconductor supported in said channel.

4. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising apair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises a bushing,said elements having interfltting parts whereby said elements may beconnected tof gether and mountedon a panel with the bushing in positionto receive and support a discharge element, one of said elements forminga pedestal on the panel in position to extend in offset relationshipwith respect to the axis of the bushing, said pedestal being providedwith a channel extending in a non-radial direction with respect to theaxis of the bushing, said channel being adapted for the removablereception of a cable conductor, a Contact, and means on said pedestaland operatively connected with said contact to support same in positionand to provide electrical connection between said contact and a cableconductor supported in said channel.

5. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising apair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises a bushing,said elements having intertting parts whereby said elements may beconnected together and mounted on a panel with the bushing in positionto receive and support a discharge element, one of said elements forminga pedestal on the panel in position to extend in offset relationshipwith respect to the axis of the bushing, said pedestal being providedwith a channel for the reception of a cable conductor, a contact, andresilient means on said pedestal and operatively connected with thecontact'to yieldingly support the same from the pedestal in position tomake electrical contact with a discharge device mounted in the bushing,said resilient means also serving to provide electrical connectionbetween said contact and a cable conductor supported in said channel.

6. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising apair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises a bushing,said elements having intertting parts whereby said elements may beconnected together and mounted on a panel with the bushing in positionto receive and support a discharge element,

one of said elements forming a pedestal on the panel in position toextend in offset relationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, acontact and means to mount the same on the pedestal in axial alignmentwith said bushing, and in position to engage and form electricalcon-tact with a discharge element supported by said bushing when thecooperating elements are in mounted position on the panel, means tomount the contact on the pedestal comprising a resilient conductorelement secured to the contact and extending substantially radiallytherefrom to the pedestal, said resilient conductor being secured to thepedestal whereby the exibility of the radially extending conductorelement provides for yieldingly supporting the contact from thepedestal.

7. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising apair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises a bushing,said elements having intertting parts whereby said elements may beconnected together and mounted on a panel with the bushing in positionto receive and support a discharge element, one of said elements forminga pedestal on the panel in position to extend in offset relationshipwith respect to the axis of the bushing, a contact and means to mountthe same on the pedestal in. axial alignment with said bushing', and inposition to engage and form electrical contact with a discharge elementsupported by said bushing when the cooperating elements are in mountedposition on the panel, and means for mounting the contact on thepedestal comprising a resilient conductor element looped substantiallyat its mid-portion and having spaced arms secured to the contact andextending therefrom to the pedestal and the element being secured to thepedestal substantially at its looped portion.

8. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising apair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises a bushing,said elements having intertting parts whereby said elements may beconnected together and mounted on a panel with the bushing in positionto receive and support a discharge element, one of said elements forminga pedestal on the panel in position to extend in olset relationship withrespect to the axis of the bushing, a contact and means to mount thesame on the pedestal in axial alignment with said bushing, and inposition to engage and form electrical Contact with a discharge elementsupported by said bushing when the cooperating elements are in mountedposition on the panel, means for mounting the contact on the pedestalcomprising a resilient conductor element looped substantially at itsmid-portion and having spaced arms secured to the contact and extendingtherefrom to the pedestal and the element being secured to the pedestalSubstantially at its looped portion, each arm of said resilient elementbeing curled intermediate the looped portion and the contact to increasetheir yielding support action.

9. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprising apair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises a bushing,said elements having intertting parts whereby said elements may beconnected together and mounted on a panel with the bushing in positionto receive and support a discharge element, one of said elements forminga pedestal on the panel in position to extend in offset relationshipwith respect to the axis of the bushing, a contact and means to mountthe same on the pedestal in axial alignment with said bushing, and inposition to engage and form electrical contact with a'discharge elementsupported by said bushing -when the cooperating elements are in mountedposition on the panel, the end of the pedestal being provided withspaced, upstanding horns and the means for mounting the contact on thepedestal comprising an element connected to the contact and extending toand secured to the pedestal between said upstanding horns.

10. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprisinga pair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises abushing, said elements having interfitting parts whereby said elementsmay be connected together and mounted on `a panel with the bushing inposition to receive and support a discharge element, one of saidelements forming a pedestal on the panel in position to extend in offsetrelationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, a contact andmeans to mount the same on the pedestal in axial alignment with saidbushing, and in position to engage and form electrical contact with adischarge element supported by said bushing when the cooperatingelements are in mounted position, on the panel, the end of the pedestalbeing provided with spaced, upstanding horns and the means for mountingthe contact on the pedestal comprising a connector secured to thecontact and having a pair of arms extending on opposite sides of saidhorns and secured to the pedestal.

11. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprisinga pair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises abushing, said elements having interfitting parts whereby said elementsmay be connected together and mounted on a panel with the bushing inposition to receive and support a discharge element, one of saidelements forming a pedestal on the panel in position to extend in offsetrelationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, a contact andmeans to mount the same on the pedestal in axial alignment with saidbushing, and in position to engage and form electrical contact with adischarge element supported by said bushing when the cooperatingelements are in mounted position. on the panel, the end of the pedestalbeing provided with spaced upstanding horns and means for mounting thecontact on the pedestal comprising a connector secured to the contactand having a pair of arms extending on opposite sides of the horns and aportion interconnecting said arms and extending between said hornsandsecured to the pedestal.

12. A mounting for use in combination with a discharge device and asupport panel comprising a pair of cooperating elements having portionsformed for threaded engagement and adapted for mounting on the panel andincluding an element forming a support provided with an opening and anoutwardly-projecting flange, and a cooperating clamp element havingprojecting portions whereby to clampingly receive the panel between saidflange and said projecting portions of the clampl when the elements arethreaded together in order to support the elements on the panel, one ofsaid elements having an offset portion forming a pedestal adapted toextend outwardly of said panel in position offset with respect to saidopening when said elements are in mounted position on the panel, ayielding contact and means to mount the contact on the pedestal in axialalignment with said opening when the cooperating elements are in mountedposition on the panel so that a discharge element inserted in saidopening may be snugly supported in position engaging the axially alignedcontact.

13. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprisinga pair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises abushing, said elements having intertting` parts whereby said elementsmay be connected together and mounted on a panel with the bushing inposition to receive and support a discharge element, one of saidelements forming a pedestal on the panel in position to extend in offsetrelationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, yielding meanscomprising a contact and means to mount the same on the pedestal inaxial alignment with said bushing, and in position to engage and formelectrical contact with a discharge element supported by said bushingwhen the cooperating elements are in mounted position on the panel.

14. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprisinga pair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises abushing, said elements having intertting parts whereby said elements maybe connected together and mounted on a panel .with the bushing inposition to receive and support a discharge element, one of saidelements forming a. pedestal on the panel in position to extend inoffset relationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, a contactand means vto Amount the same on the pedestal in axial alignment withsaid bushing, and in position to engage and form electrical contact witha discharge element supported by said bushing when the cooperatingelements are in mounted position on the panel, said Contact being ofvyielding character permitting movement thereof in the direction of theaxis of said bushing as the discharge element is inserted in saidblushingand arranged in mounted position therein.

15. A mounting for supporting a discharge element on a panel comprisinga pair of cooperating elements, at least one of which comprises abushing, said elements having interfitting parts whereby said elementsmay be connected together and mounted on a panel with Athe bushing inposition to receive and support a discharge element, one of -saidelements forming a pedestal on the panel in position to extend in offsetrelationship with respect to the axis of the bushing, a conv.

tact and means to mount vthe same on the pedestal in axial alignmentwith said bushing, and in position to engage and form electrical.contact with a discharge element supported by said bushing whenthecooperating elements are in mounted position on the panel, said contactbeing of yielding character permitting movement thereof in the directionof the axis of said bushing as the discharge element is inserted in saidbushing and arranged inmounted position therein, and means for securingthe discharge element against movement from mounted position in saidbushing under the urge of said yielding contact.

HERBERT G. HAMMAR.

